DONGAN HILLS — After a 40 year run at the Colonnade Diner, Markos "Mike" Platis can easily declare his restaurant concept a success. Still, the Dongan Hills entrepreneur dreams even bigger: He's expanding the diner with an al fresco section dubbed "Santorini Garden Café."

This offshoot of the Colonnade, accessed now through a door on the second floor and a stairwell from the parking lot below, is being primed for outdoor supping and lounging.

Platis hopes to open in about two weeks.

"This is going to be a big hit, that's why I want to keep it nice and low (key)," said Platis as he walked across the sprawling concrete surface which is raised on steel beams over a parking section. Right now, he just has a small banner to announce the venture. Plaitis is concerned about getting a trained staff in place before doing a full-blown promotion of the cafe.

NEW CONCEPT MENU & AMENITIES

In the meantime, Platis is overjoyed by his latest concept. He's installing a rotisserie.

"You ever go to the Greek festival on Victory Boulevard?" he asked. "We're going to make the lamb, the pig, the chickens..."

This restaurateur, by the way, came to America from Greece at 14. He hails from the island of Santorini, hence the restaurant's namesake, where his family owns Anita's Villa Hotel. His father served in the U.S. Navy and he is proud to fly American flags along the diner's parapet with the Greek flag, a nod to his origins. For the café, he envisions more American flags as part of the decoration.

"I'm going to put them all over!" he said with a smile and sweeping gesture of his hand.

Santorini's Garden Café will see flatscreen televisions built into custom wooden frames, lounging sections to enjoy cocktails and a view of potted plants and flowers. A part of the Colonnade inside, referred to as the "greenhouse," will be renovated and turned into a breezeway with cocktail tables. This will be a haven for customers on rainy nights.

"For now, (the café) is going to be open, but we're going to put up awnings," he said.

Plus, he's going to remodel the Colonnade as well.

"The last time we did it, that was 1992," said Platis. Since then, water related to Hurricane Sandy submerged the area around the restaurant in 2012 forcing it to close for two months. It reopened on New Year's Eve with a free party for the neighbors on Jefferson and Hull Avenues who also were affected by water damage.

The Colonnade Diner — located at 2001 Hylan Blvd. — opened for business in 1974. It was dubbed by some as the "Disco Diner" as revelers from nearby bars and clubs stopped in for a meal or drink after hours.